Helping hand for police, families

A new group will help when tragedy strikes and build a monument to 12 fallen officers.

ST. PETERSBURG – City Council member Richard Kriseman and community business leaders have launched an organization to help the families of police officers in times of crisis.

Heroes of St. Petersburg Police has been in the works since 2002, when Kriseman and Judy Woodworth, a vice president at United Healthcare in Tampa, came up with the idea.

The organization will assist officers and their families in times of crisis and build a monument commemorating 12 St. Petersburg police officers killed in the line of duty over the years. The organization also will raise money to buy specialty safety equipment.

Kriseman planned to introduce the organization this spring, but the death of Brooke Ingoldsby, the stepdaughter of a St. Petersburg police officer, prompted him to introduce the organization early.

“This is an opportunity to have a way of contributing and showing support for police,” he said. “It was important to start the foundation now and try to help pay for (Ingoldsby’s) funeral expenses.”

The organization is privately funded and hopes to garner donations from the community.

Kriseman said board members include representatives from Progress Energy, the Buccaneers, the Devil Rays and Bank of America. The mayor and police chief are nonvoting board members.

HOW TO HELP

The organization asks that donations be sent c/o Jim Newman, 100 Second Ave. S, Suite 600, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Checks should be made payable to Heroes of St. Petersburg Police.